The Departamento de Prevencion de la Corrupcion (Depreco), a department of the Attorney General’s office, has requested former President Leonel Fernandez and 15 of his officers appear for questioning. It is in regards to an audit that showed incorrect procedures in the management of RD$1.4 billion in funds deposited in a construction account from January to August 2000. The fund was opened to repair public works damaged by Hurricane Georges. Depreco had fallen into near inactivity amidst dozens of inquiries into corruption by the present administration which overshadowed its offensive against the previous government. Initial investigations into corruption in the 1996-2000 Fernandez presidency carried out by Depreco led nowhere and the department has not produced any charges regarding recent press revelations of corruption in the current government either. The only case where someone was sent to jail is that of Victor Tio, head of the government’s property department. A recent poll showed that 75% of Dominicans feel the present government is doing little or nothing to reduce corruption in its administration. Former President Leonel Fernandez said he would not heed the order to come before the department on 11 September because the department is not empowered to make the request. He said that he appeared earlier before Judge Angelan Casasnovas for questioning because that judge was in a legal position to make the requirement. The former statesman said, “The response of this government against the PLD is one of humiliation and abuse that the PLD is not going to tolerate. We have honor and dignity.” He said that the same procedures he is being questioned about were recently used by Director of Customs Vicente Sanchez Baret who just made a transfer to the central government of RD$52.5 million. Fernandez said that the law does not oblige the President to ask for congressional approval to make a transfer of funds not stipulated in the budget or when borrowing locally. Hoy newspaper says that the requirement for the former statesman to appear before Depreco is more political than anything else. Fernandez is the strongest possible contender in the 2004 presidential election at this time. The Depreco summons comes three days after the former statesman criticized the Mejia government’s economic policies and lack of vision.
